Why do so many Americans hate French people? (to move, backyards)

[Huckleberry3911948]

read your article with interest.
obviously your background gives you much insight. I lived in Paris 71 thru 77.
you are right its a mixed bag. some like us. some dont. they do get very angry from time to time about WWII. A big puzzle to americans. perhaps you could shed some light on that. as to the french being more productive workers than americans. i was surprised as this does not coincide with what labor statistics i have seen (french and american) and also personal experience of living and working around french in paris. although i must say again it can be a mixed bag.
probably the reputation of parisians for being rude to foreigners does french culture a lot of damage. it would seem that the rule practiced in many world societies of going easy on foreign visitors does not apply to the french, despite their great skill in manners.
i was watching a tv show on european attitudes towards the USA last night. it said the french seem to see americans as rich idiots. also french feel that by right of their intellect france should be the rich and americans the poor re
as to global power distribution. this ignores that fact that despite the wonderful education system and some great thinkers in france, france has made some serious mistakes, globally, politically, and especially militarily.
i would say the french rank high in interpersonal skills but still make mistakes just like the rest of us. i wont make you suffer thru my poor grammar and punctuation in french, suffice the english. thanks.
stephen s
san diego

[Huckleberry3911948]

as to paris. i love paris, . and as to the authors note on other french cities yes they treat americans better outside of paris but now i will speak of what i know, paris. in fairness to the readers----the practice in the world communities of going easy on foreign visitors is not done in paris when it comes to americans. this is in spite of good education and good breeding. americans do seem to be singled out for bad treatment. a little additional bad news, its does not go away when you learn the language, it diminishes but never really goes away. best hope is tolerance. i lived in paris 71 thru 77. not everybody in paris is mean. but the city habit of being rude to american visitors does the french a lot of damage. this could use improvement. another puzzle for americans is french hostility towards americans re WWII. could you shed some light on that for the readers. i watched a tv show last night on european attitudes towards the USA. basically france saw americans as rich idiots. by moral right they felt they should have the riches and americans the financial woes.
despite france's wonderful educational system and some truly great minds, france has made serious mistakes, (just like the rest of us) financial, global, political and especially militarily.
i will spare you my spelling and punctuation errors in french, suffice enough of them in english.
stephen s
san diego

[momgonenutzinmem]

I've had 5 years of French and embarrassed to say that I have retained very little of it (I'm guessing from lack of use)

One of the reasons there is an inherent dislike for the French, goes back thru History.....It hasn't been exactly a 2 way street since the Revolutionary War (which they helped us win)...then there is the lack of support in Iraq, which had to do with the French getting most of their oil supply from them.....their lack of support in Iran with the ebmassy, and they wouldn't let us fly into their air space when we had problems with Libya.....and they do like to make fun of Americans, even if we attempt the lanquage (just to name a few)....My husband was in Paris not too long ago on business and took a taxi to the Louvre....the taxi driver made fun of his accent...and he tried, but he just doesn't have a French accent....In high school, a group of us went to Quebec City, which is quite beautiful...we were on a city bus when a native lady from Quebec got on the bus with her fur coat (which was beautiful) and started flipping out when she saw us on the bus....Now I don't speak French well at all, but back then, I sure could understand it....she called us stupid, American fools...the bus driver had to tell her to sit down and "ferme la bouche" (Probably didn't spell that right either! sorry) (We Americans really do need to learn languages much earlier in life!) That's why some Americans don't like the French; it just adds up,I guess (and of course not all Americans feel that way). But right now a lot of people overseas don't care for us too much!

Personally, I'm not into cities in general, but I would LOVE to see the French countryside someday!

[Mooseketeer]

Originally Posted by Bunky39

as to paris. i love paris, . and as to the authors note on other french cities yes they treat americans better outside of paris but now i will speak of what i know, paris. in fairness to the readers----the practice in the world communities of going easy on foreign visitors is not done in paris when it comes to americans. this is in spite of good education and good breeding. americans do seem to be singled out for bad treatment. a little additional bad news, its does not go away when you learn the language, it diminishes but never really goes away. best hope is tolerance. i lived in paris 71 thru 77. not everybody in paris is mean. but the city habit of being rude to american visitors does the french a lot of damage. this could use improvement. another puzzle for americans is french hostility towards americans re WWII. could you shed some light on that for the readers. i watched a tv show last night on european attitudes towards the USA. basically france saw americans as rich idiots. by moral right they felt they should have the riches and americans the financial woes.
despite france's wonderful educational system and some truly great minds, france has made serious mistakes, (just like the rest of us) financial, global, political and especially militarily.
i will spare you my spelling and punctuation errors in french, suffice enough of them in english.
stephen s
san diego

I am surprised at what you say about WW2 as all my experience growing up was one of gratefulness and admiration for the US and British troops. I think both both British and French people and other European Nations, are a bit puzzled as to why the US only entered the war in 41 rather than 39 ( which might have made Hitler think twice about ravaging Europe and would have saved millions of lives) and American bombers were notorious for bombing the wrong targets and "friendly fire" incidents but on the whole all I have heard about Americans is positive. People my grand-parents absolutely adore Americans.

Regarding Parisians, they are rude to everybody, I come from Brittany and when I moved to Paris, I was surprised how rude some people could be. I think that goes with most cities. I lived near NYC for a while and I can't say they were very friendly or warm either.
Parisians think themselves superior to anybody else and are reviled around the rest of France for being rude, inconsiderate and stuck-up. There are entire chapters of joke books about Parisians in France.

Until the Iraq war , I never really heard anything negative about the US whilst in France. French people do like Americans but it doesn't mean they have to like the politics or foreign policies.

[Moth]

I am surprised at what you say about WW2 as all my experience growing up was one of gratefulness and admiration for the US and British troops. I think both both British and French people and other European Nations, are a bit puzzled as to why the US only entered the war in 41 rather than 39

to answer your question:

The US of 1939 was not the US of today. We had something like the 18th biggest military (Portugal was more powerful on paper). There was deep isolationist sentiment (you know, minding our own business) and we were technically neutral (funny how Switzerland and Sweden never get any grief for not fighting the Germans at all and indeed helping them).

Furthermore, the UK and France did not rush right in and challenge Hitler and Germany. Far from it. Rather than fight, you both sold Czeckoslovakia down the river and tried to appease Hitler. Puzzling how you lot always manage to leave that vital, little detail out.

[JTC]

I dont hate french people! One of the hottest girls on tv i've ever seen is french! Maryse Ouellet.....if anyone knows who she is lol.

[Mooseketeer]

[quote=Moth;1384124]to answer your question:

The US of 1939 was not the US of today. We had something like the 18th biggest military (Portugal was more powerful on paper). There was deep isolationist sentiment (you know, minding our own business) and we were technically neutral (funny how Switzerland and Sweden never get any grief for not fighting the Germans at all and indeed helping them).

Furthermore, the UK and France did not rush right in and challenge Hitler and Germany. Far from it. Rather than fight, you both sold Czeckoslovakia down the river and tried to appease Hitler. Puzzling how you lot always manage to leave that vital, little detail out.

QUOTE]

I find your answer so insulting to the memory of hundreds of thousands of people who died. "My lot" as it happened died escaping from Auschwitz (my great grand-father) and my great uncle spent 3 and a half years in death camps ( Buchenwald, Dachau and Auschwitz). Neither were Jewish but members of the French resistance. Real cowards indeed.

The French government was indeed despicable but to accuse French or British people as Nations of rolling over is an appalling slur. The rest of "my lot" by the way ( grand-parents and friends of my grand-parents spent the war picking up British and American airmen, hiding them and smuggling out to the UK).

Yes there were collaborators but most people like most human beings just tried to get on with their lives as best as possible.

My grand-mother saw her father and 2 of his students ( he was a Professor of English) dragged out by the Gestapo in Caen and that was the last she saw of him.

My great-aunt didn't even recognised her husband when he came home weighing less than a child of 10.

By the time "your lot" ( as we are on such a personal level) got there the whole of Europe had been put to the sword and millions had died whilst you "minded your own business". What would have happened to Europe if Pearl Harbor had not been bombed ?


My great-grand father had been mustard gas in the Trenches of Flanders during WW1 and could not join the army in WW2 so he joined the resistance and did what he could for his country.

Others lived the war the best way they could. Most were not collaborators and to imply this is not only insulting it is poor history.


Britain and France declared war on Germany two days after Hitler invaded Poland. And yes previous to that Czechoslovakia was dishonourably treated by the French and European governments.

It still doesn't really explain the two years for your lot to get over here. There would have been a lot less butchery on the beaches of Normandy perhaps if the US had entered the war at the onset, and certainly less deaths in concentration camps.

[Yeledaf]

Moth:


I shared your puzzlement until I finally visited France a few years ago, and saw how breathtakingly beautiful the country is, how well-preserved its historical sites are, and especially how architecturally unified and lovely Paris is. My theory (and it is mine alone) is that the French 1. remembered how Germany bled them white in 1914-1918, 2. figured that they were hopelessly outgunned and outmanned, and 3. desperately wanted to preserve their gorgeous country from harm.

If you ever go to Europe (or have already done so), please note the contrast between London and Paris. One is shabby, mixed up, and dreary -- the other is marvelous. Surrender, one might conclude, has its beneifts, just as victory has its costs.

[Huckleberry3911948]

i love colonial american history. whenever i am reminded of our differences with the frence, i remember the great support they gave us in our revolution and the statue (a gift from france) that still stands in our NYC harbor to remember their help.
i am glad we put up that statue. it is amazing that sometimes we seem to forget the kindness of others. i also remember that at that time in history they owed us nothing but did so much to help us. the french have heart. i also admire the man who wrote earlier about the french resistance, no doubt a very brave man who suffered greatly for france.


stephen s
san diego

[peggydavis]

Well, it was a good thread for about 23 pages.